Monthly Archives: March 2016

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Last night at approximately 8:40 p.m., 4th District officers responded to a residence in the 700 block of Brandon Green Drive in Silver Spring for the report of a missing 72-year-old man.

4th District officers, led by Sergeant Michael Chuckeral, spoke with the missing man’s wife, who stated that her husband, Shing Wong, had not returned from a medical appointment in Wheaton that morning. Officers learned that Mr. Wong was driving a 1997 Honda Accord. He had a cellular phone but was not answering. Mr. Wong also had medical issues which were of concern. At that time, a Silver Alert was issued.

Officers from the Electronic and Technical Surveillance Unit (ETSU) began to track Mr. Wong’s cellular phone signal. At 10:00 p.m., Mr. Wong’s phone was showing in the general area of the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Harford County.

At approximately 11:00 p.m., Mr. Wong’s wife made contact with her husband on his phone. Mr. Wong told her that he did not know where he was but that he was in water, his car battery had died, and he was unable to get out of his vehicle. 4th District officers, cognizant of the unknown power level of Mr. Wong’s cell phone battery, asked Mr. Wong direct and pointed questions about his surroundings. Mr. Wong was able to note that he was near or under a wooden bridge and that the water was up to his waist.

After learning this information, officers focused the search on the Gunpowder River in the area of the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. As officers talked with Mr. Wong to gather additional information about his possible whereabouts, other officers continued to attempt to trace his cell phone location. The Department also requested the assistance of the Maryland State Police helicopter in performing an aerial search of the area. The United States Coast Guard and the Aberdeen Proving Ground Police and Fire&Rescue personnel also were contacted and lent their assistance with the search. Montgomery County Police Search Coordinator, Jason Huggins, also responded to the area.

At approximately 12:30 a.m., Mr. Wong answered a phone call from his wife but did not talk.

Around this time, officers received another signal from Mr. Wong’s phone which indicated that the phone was in the area 3.5 miles north of the original signal and was in the area of the Bush River. As Montgomery County Police Officer Jason Huggins (Search Coordinator) and Harford County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to that area, Montgomery County Police Search Coordinator, Officer John Greene, remotely analyzed geographic, hydrographic, and satellite data to determine possible search areas. Those areas were provided to Officer Jason Huggins (see third photo below) who was now in the area of the Bush River.

Harford County Sheriff’s Deputies Tatum and Walsh and Montgomery County Police Officer Jason Huggins located Mr. Wong sitting in his vehicle in a creek (at the dead end of Perry Drive) that flows into the Bush River. The water level was even with the driver’s side window. Mr. Wong was cold, disoriented, and stated that he could not move. Officer Huggins was able to remove Mr. Wong from his vehicle and carry him to Emergency Medical Services from Harford County. Mr. Wong was transported to a local hospital for treatment of hypothermia; his condition improved at the hospital. The temperature of the water was approximately 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Department would like to thank the Maryland State Police, the United States Coast Guard, the Aberdeen Proving Ground Police and Fire&Rescue personnel, and the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in locating Mr. Wong.

RLI

Mr. Wong’s Vehicle

Mr. Wong’s Vehicle

High probability of Mr. Wong’s location based on cellular phone data and subsequently, area where Mr. Wong was rescued.

Officers from the Montgomery County Police Department’s 4th District charged Kabir K. Salami, age 20, of an unconfirmed address, with committing a kidnapping in Wheaton.

On March 29 at approximately 8:06 p.m., officers from the 4th District responded to the area of the 11400 block of Monterrey Drive in Wheaton for the report of a kidnapping that just occurred.

The investigation revealed that at approximately 7:50 p.m., a 6-year-old female was playing in the fenced area of the front yard to her home while her mother was present. A suspect, later identified as Salami, opened a gate and entered the yard. Salami grabbed the 6-year-old victim and attempted to carry her out of the yard. The victim’s mother witnessed Salami grab her daughter and intervened by placing herself between him and the gate. The mother was able to free her daughter from Salami’s grasp. Salami fled from the yard when the victim and her mother ran inside the home to call 9-1-1. Salami came back to that same residence a few minutes later and pounded his fists on the front door to the home before fleeing once again.

Responding officers located Salami in the 11200 block of Viers Mill Road where he was positively identified as the same suspect that grabbed the victim from the front yard on Monterrey Drive. Salami was arrested and during an interview told officers that he came back to the residence to talk to the victim and give her a hug.

Salami was transported the Central Processing Unit and charged with one count of kidnapping, one count of false imprisonment, and one count of second-degree assault. Salami was ordered held without bond.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – Special Victims Investigation Division have charged Jose F. Campos-Gonzalez, age 44, of the 500 block of West Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg, with a sex offense.

On March 23 at approximately 6:00 p.m., an adult female hired two men as temporary laborers, one of whom was later identified as Campos-Gonzalez, from in front of the 7-Eleven convenience store located at 405 North Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. Campos-Gonzalez responded to the female’s home to perform the work he was hired for and encountered the female’s 6-year-old daughter in an upstairs room. Campos-Gonzalez sexually assaulted the 6-year-old girl while in the room. Campos-Gonzalez left the home after the work was completed and the victim reported the sexual assault to her mother.

On March 25, detectives used information provided by the mother to conduct an investigation at the 7-Eleven where they identified Campos-Gonzalez as a suspect and obtained a possible address for him, but could not locate him at that time.

On March 28, detectives met with the victim and her mother at the 7-Eleven store in an attempt to locate Campos-Gonzalez. While at the store, investigators determined he was at his residence nearby. Detectives, along with the victim and her mother responded to Campos-Gonzalez’s home where the victim was able to positively identify him as the person who sexually assaulted her.

Campos-Gonzalez was arrested and during an interview, admitted to the assault. Campos-Gonzalez was charged with one count of committing a third degree sex offense. He is currently being held on a bond of $500.

Investigation revealed Jose Campos-Gonzalez would frequent the 7-Eleven and accept temporary employment offers as a laborer. Detectives believe there may be additional victims. Anyone who believes that they may have encountered Campos-Gonzalez is asked to contact the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400.

** Montgomery County Police caution all residents to supervise anyone in their home or yard who they hire to complete work. **

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – 3rd District Investigative Section are investigating the shooting of one woman and the assault of another woman that occurred in Burtonsville.

On March 26 at approximately 4:59 a.m., 3rd District officers and Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the area of Star Point Lane and Dino Drive for the report of a shooting. Responding officers located a 26-year-old female suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was transported to an area hospital in serious condition.

Preliminary investigation indicates that there was a large party inside a warehouse on Star Point Lane. A large fight ensued inside the warehouse and members of a private security company attempted to break up the fight and disperse the crowd. The fighting continued outside of the warehouse where an unknown suspect fired a handgun, striking the victim.

Later that morning, at approximately 11:30 a.m., detectives were notified that a 23-year-old female was dropped off at a local emergency room complaining of a head injury. This second victim told detectives that she was present at the reggae party and was struck multiple times in the head by a bottle and knocked to the ground by unknown suspects.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have attended the party or who may have witnessed the shooting and/or the assault to call the 3rd District Investigative Section at 240-773-6870. Callers can remain anonymous.

Detectives from the 2nd District Investigative Section are asking the public’s help to locate a missing 52-year-old male from North Bethesda.

Steven Todd Katze of the 5800 block of Nicholson Lane was last seen on March 28 at approximately 11:00 p.m. in a restaurant in the 7900 block of Norfolk Avenue in Bethesda. It is not known what he was wearing at that time. Katze’s vehicle was located in front of his residence.

Katze is described as a white male, 5′ 11″ tall, and weighing approximately 220 pounds. He has a shaved head and blue eyes.

Police and family are concerned for his physical welfare.

Anyone with information regarding Steven Todd Katze’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Montgomery County Police Department at 301-279-8000.